Media Releases 2005

13 July 2005

Joint statement: Australian and German university sectors

In a joint higher education forum on 11 July 2005 in Bonn, Germany the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee and its German counterpart organisation, the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) agreed on the following statement:

The current higher education reforms in both Australia and Germany will shape the profile of research, teaching and learning in both countries for years to come. At the same time, expectations from business and the general community towards universities are rising.

AVCC and HRK consider it of paramount importance that the funding and legal frameworks support, not hinder universities in fulfilling their teaching and research missions. Universities should therefore have significant control in determining and developing their:

• academic profile;
• teaching methods and delivery of programs;
• student profile;
• internationalization strategy;
• staffing requirements; and
• research and development strategy.

While universities welcome the challenges of increasing competition, they need a legislative environment which encourages diversity and differential emphases on research, teaching and other services within and between institutions.

In AVCC’s and HRK’s point of view, all universities should have:

• a legislative basis for their establishment;
• the provision of education and research training across the range of university qualifications;
• the provision of education and research training across a wide spectrum of disciplines;
• some significant research strengths;
• a commitment to engagement with their community; and
• a commitment to the expansion of learning and knowledge for the public good.

Based on this definition, universities should be free and are called upon to define and develop their profiles in research, learning, and other activities.

-ENDS-

Media Inquiries Callista Punch - Phone: (02) 6285 8206 OR 0400 166691